Malaysians returning from overseas will be quarantined - Ismail Sabri

All Malaysians returning from overseas will be quarantined for 14 days at a specific place to be provided by the government starting this Friday.

Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the move was agreed in a joint meeting with Menteris Besar and Chief Ministers to coordinate the implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO) on Tuesday.

According to him, the procedure meant that they would be taken directly to the quarantine centre by a special bus when they arrived at the airport in the country.

"There, they will be screened by Ministry of Health (MOH) officials to check their health status.

"They also need to comply with other standard operating procedures (SOPs) set by the National Security Council," he told a press conference here on Tuesday.

Ismail advised the people, including family members, not to come to the airport to welcome them.

In the meantime, he said, 100 buses were sponsored by a state government to facilitate the process.

He said the government had to take such measures to protect everyone as many other countries including China saw an increase in COVID-19 infection after more people returned to the country.

At the same time, he also advised Malaysians, including students abroad, to stay there as they had accommodation.

On Friday, Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Kamarudin Jaffar said 3,468 Malaysians reported to be stranded in 61 countries will be brought back in the near future.

He also estimated that the number to increase as more Malaysians would register at the Malaysian Embassy in Chennai.